As a wannabe screenwriter, I have an immense appreciation for good movies.
Or, at least, I should.
And I do. Really.
There's something about a good movie-- and by "good" I mean super well-made, cool story, great acting, awesome everything-- that makes me feel so pumped when I finish watching it.
When I finish watching a good movie, I want to go out and tell the world about it. I want to stand on top of the Empire State Building with a megaphone and shout out everything that's awesome about it.
Only I'm afraid of heights.
But good movies are like endorphins. They give off the best feeling in the world. Even better than concert-high. More on that later.
The reason I'm writing this is I just finished watching Drive, which was, quite possibly, the most well-made and cleverest movie I've seen in a while. That shadow shot was incredible. INCREDIBLE! If you've seen it, you'll know what I'm talking about.
Last week at a film school interview, I was asked why I liked Taxi Driver. And all I could come up with was: "It was entertaining. And I liked the look of it."
Really? That's it?
That was it.
But then I remembered exactly why I liked it. And the reasons are many.
First, it was Robert De Niro. De Niro! Suuuuuuuuuch a good actor! That final scene, when he looks in the rear-view mirror is seriously some of the best acting I've ever seen.
Secondly, the deconstruction of that character. What a change!
Third, yes, the look of it. Of course the look of it! It's film noir! It has a dirty city and newspapers and dull colors and dimly-lit streets.
And Martin Scorsese is amazing. And it has awesome camera angles! And the fact that he survived is pretty crazy and kind of cheesy, but whatever! It's De Niro!
And all of those things, I couldn't think of when the time came.
So I had to say them now.
But it's that kind of excitement that good movies invoke.
And I don't always like well-made movies. There are a lot of well-made movies that I think are boring or depressing (Here's looking at you, Aronofsky) or just overrated.
But movies like Drive or Taxi Driver are just movie magic.
